King County mails ballots for Feb. 14 special election

Voters in communities just outside Issaquah — Klahanie, Mirrormont, Preston and more — should receive ballots soon for a Feb. 14 special election.

On Wednesday, King County Elections mailed ballots and voters’ pamphlets Fire District 10 voters. The district, plus a handful of school districts elsewhere in King County, is placing a measure before the electorate.

Fire District 10 serves residents in Klahanie, May Valley, Preston and Tiger Mountain in the Issaquah area, plus Carnation in rural King County.

The ballot measure in Fire District 10 asks voters to consider a $5.5 million bond meant to build a fire station in May Valley, closer to more district residents.

The existing facility for the area, Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 78, is located at the district’s western edge, just outside Renton. (Fire District 10 is a partner in EFR, a regional emergency response agency.)

Because Fire District 10 officials requested a voters’ pamphlet for the special election, voters should receive the guide in the same envelope as ballots. King County Elections also posted the measure information in a digital guide.

Voting starts as soon as residents return ballots. The elections office is opening a ballot drop box at Issaquah City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way, Thursday for the special election.

Ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 14, or slipped into a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. the same day.

“Make sure to return your ballot before the deadline — the earlier, the better,” Elections Director Sherril Huff said in a statement. “Ballot drop boxes are available to return a ballot without postage, or you can return your ballot by mail. First class stamp prices just went up, so please be sure to use sufficient postage.”